Captain America fans Eli "Guitar Man" Fletcher, Ed Harder and Kathleen Daly wait in line in the hopes of winning tickets to see "Captain American: The Winter Soldier" on the patio of Market Garden Brewery. The Ohio City bar-eatery hosted a party on Monday that included a raffle -- as well as guests Anthony and Joe Russo, the Cleveland natives that director the film.
(John Petkovic/The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- They came for the tickets. They came to meet the directors. They came to get the scoop on what happens in the movie.

Well, we can all be assured of one thing: West 25th Street did not get destroyed in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”

Anthony and Joe Russo love it too much.

The Cleveland brothers and directors of the Captain America film appeared Monday at Market Garden Brewery in Ohio City for a party that celebrated the opening of the film. The bash doubled as a raffle for fans trying to win tickets for an area premiere on Tuesday.

“We had such a great time making this movie in Cleveland,” said Joe Russo. “That…”
“We wanted to have Cleveland host a premiere,” his brother Anthony interjected, as they greeted, and took pictures of, fans in the bar.

Cleveland natives and directors of "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" Joe and Anthony Russo came to Market Garden in Ohio City on Monday to celebrate and give away tickets to the area premiere.John Petkovic/The Plain Dealer

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” premiers Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Cinemark 24 in Valley View. Cleveland is one of five cities, along with London, Paris, Beijing and Los Angeles, to host a premiere. The film will play on multiple screens at Valley View.

Fans filled the patio of Market Garden in the hopes of landing a pair of tickets.

“I’m hoping to get a ticket so I can see if I’m in the movie – I was in a scene when I jumped out of a car,” says Ed Harder, an extra who came brandishing a Captain America shield. “Plus I hear this movie is great.”

Next to him in line was Eli Fletcher, or, as he prefers, “Guitar Man.”

“I’m Cleveland’s only superhero, saving Cleveland one song at a time,” said Guitar Man, wearing a cape and a mask and strumming an acoustic guitar. “And I’m waiting in line for tickets so I can see another super hero.”

Initial reviews of the film have been positive. The Russo were just as happy with the reviews they got closer to home.

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” filmed action scenes on the West Shoreway, West Third Street, Superior Avenue and at the Cleveland Museum of Art, among other locations.

Many hours were also spent in Ohio City – at least when the filming was over.

“The crew and cast really loved going out here,” said Joe Russo, who lamented that he was unable to drink beer because he was on antibiotics. “Lot of good beer here.”

The Russos felt personally responsible for showing them a good time in their home town.

Eli "Guitar Man" Fletcher considers himself "Cleveland's only superhero." He came to Market Garden in Ohio City to try and win tickets to the area premiere of "Captain America: The Winter Soldier." Guitar Man came armed with a guitar, because, as he says, he's "saving the world one song at a time."John Petkovic/The Plain Dealer

“We had a seven-page email that we wrote out for everyone in the film,” said Joe Russo. “We detailed all the neighborhoods, from Ohio City to Little Italy to Tremont, Coventry – everywhere.”

Chris Evans, who plays Captain America, loved it so much that he wants to come back for “Captain America 3” – the next Captain America film, which the Russo Brothers are in line to direct.

“We’re still working on the details and haven’t figured out what’s going on with it,” said Anthony Russo. “And we already have Chris Evans asking to do it in Cleveland.”

“He really loved going out here,” added Joe Russo. “We all had such a great time.”